New Congress keeps ethics office alive

Jan. 3, 2013
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Aides to House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California say they are working to ensure there is no lapse in the work of the board of the Office of Congressional Ethics. / Saul Loeb, AFP/Getty Images

by Fredreka Schouten, USA TODAY

by Fredreka Schouten, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON - Congress has voted to keep intact an independent office that polices the behavior of House members. Lawmakers approved the Office of Congressional Ethics as part of a package of rules that will govern the new Congress, which convened Thursday.

The terms of four of the six members of the office's board were set to expire this week - raising concerns among congressional watchdogs that the office would lose its investigative powers. The staff cannot start probes without board approval, and new members have not been named.

The new rules drop term limits for board members, allowing top congressional leaders to reappoint current members.

Aides to House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California say they are working to ensure there is no lapse in the board's work.

The House created the independent body four years ago during Pelosi's tenure as speaker to crack down on what she called Capitol Hill's "culture of corruption." The Senate does not have a similar office.

The office, which has opened more than 100 investigations since 2008, has survived earlier efforts to slash its funding and limit its power to start investigations.

The rules package, crafted by the Republicans who control the chamber, passed on a party line 228-196 vote. Many Democrats opposed inclusion of a measure that would allow the House to continue legal battles supporting the Defense of Marriage Act. The federal law bans same-sex marriage and is set to be reviewed by the Supreme Court this year.